International class

COUNTY’S impressive teenage midfielder Matty Mainwaring is determined to make the most of his unexpected maiden international call-up this week. Up until April, Salford lad Mainwaring wasn’t even aware that he might get an opportunity to parade his undoubted talents on the international stage, as he revealed to the Express this week.

COUNTY’S impressive teenage midfielder Matty Mainwaring is determined to make the most of his unexpected maiden international call-up this week.

Up until April, Salford lad Mainwaring wasn’t even aware that he might get an opportunity to parade his undoubted talents on the international stage, as he revealed to the Express this week.

"It came to light just before the final home game of last season against Crewe," said Mainwaring.

"Jim Gannon told me that somebody from the Republic of Ireland under-19s set-up was going to be at the game because they had checked and found out that one of my grandparents on my dad’s side was from Ireland.

"Therefore I’m able to represent them, I’ve been invited to go over to Dublin for a three-day training camp, and I’m absolutely delighted.

"It’s going to be a massive opportunity for me to do my best with a bunch of players who are mainly from Premiership and Championship clubs.

"As soon as I got the invite to go over to Dublin I had no hesitation in saying ‘yes’. It will be a real privilege."

It appears that Republic under-19s coach Sean McCaffrey sees Mainwaring as a potential squad member for a friendly in Switzerland next month, then possibly for the UEFA Championship finals which take place in the Ukraine in July.

Mainwaring added: "It would be great if I could get a call to the squad for the competitive games, but for now I’m just going to work hard in Dublin this week and hopefully I’ll sufficiently impress the coaching staff.

"Of course I’m hoping that this is the first call-up of many. Firstly the under-19s, then the under-21s, and maybe onto the full squad in the future."

The call-up for the training camp, which took place between Monday and Wednesday of this week, caps a brilliant debut season at Edgeley Park for Mainwaring.

"It is the icing on the cake for me really," said Mainwaring. "I’m still trying to come to terms with how good a season it has been for me.

"If anybody had said to me last summer that I’d go on to make 22 first-team appearances for County, and then get an international call-up, I’d have thought they were joking.

"It’s been a dream come true for me, I’m over the moon. Hopefully I can just kick on from here now."

On the County front, meanwhile, Mainwaring is hoping that the new ownership situation is resolved sooner rather than later, particularly so considering he signed a new contract with the Hatters just a day before the club slipped into administration.

Mainwaring added: "The Ireland training camp has been at the forefront of my mind of late, but of course all the players want the club situation sorting out as soon as possible.

"I can’t see it going on for much longer. The club will be back on its feet soon enough."